How to Hard Boil Eggs at High Altitude

Living at a mile high has it’s advantages, but when it comes to cooking, it can be difficult to predict how your food will come out. Too dry? Too mushy? Overcooked? Undercooked?

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with hard boiled eggs ever since I moved to Denver in ’98. No matter what, they weren’t perfect. Too much gray stuff, undercooked, can’t peel easily, you name it, I had a problem with it.

Leave it to my husband to figure out the golden trick to making the perfect hard boiled egg at a high altitude! His eggs are perfectly done, not too much gray and easy to peel.

Being the wonderful wife I am, I stole his secrets and am sharing them with you! Whether you live at sea level or at 10,000 feet, his egg trick will do the trick!

Step 1 – Place the eggs in the pot and cover with lukewarm water. Bring to a rolling boil.

Emily is a mom to three very active boys. Her youngest is autistic so she is passionate about advocating for children and families on the spectrum. She attends more concerts than is humanly possible and takes some pretty amazingly blurry photos of said shows to prove she was there. Also, #hashtags are her favorite. #totes #noreally

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Emily

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Emily is a mom to three very active boys. Her youngest is autistic so she is passionate about advocating for children and families on the spectrum. She attends more concerts than is humanly possible and takes some pretty amazingly blurry photos of said shows to prove she was there. Also, #hashtags are her favorite. #totes #noreally

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23 thoughts on “How to Hard Boil Eggs at High Altitude”

I really want to know how to make a set boiled egg at high altitude. This morning I put an egg into boiling water and boiled it for 5 minutes. I ran cold water over it. When I opened it, it was underdone. How long should I have cooked a large egg to get it soft-boiled at 5,600 elevation?

I live in Evergreen, CO at 7800′. I did as the recipe suggested. Once the egg/water pot was boiling rapidly, I set the timer for 15 minutes. Thereafter, I removed the pot from the burner, covered, and let cool for another 15 minutes. I then ran the eggs under cold water, rolled to crack, and they peeled easily. The eggs were sufficiently cooked, but the yolks crumbled a bit when I tried to slice them thin. Perhaps a few more minutes in the boiling water.

Tried this in NC mountains at 4800′,followed the directions exactly, and it worked. The eggs are great, and peel easily. LAst time,I tried a normal hard boiled egg recipe, which did not have the hard boiling in water for 10-15 mins before turning off and letting sit covered.Those eggs ended up soggy and congealed mess, more like soft boiled.

•Step 1 – Place the eggs in the pot and cover with lukewarm water. Bring to a rolling boil.
DOES THE SIZE OF THE POT MATTER OR…HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD COVER THE EGGS?
•Step 2 – Boil hard for 10-15 minutes
I HAVE HEARD 14 MINUTES SO I WILL TRY THAT.
•Step 3 – Turn off the heat and cover the pot. (this is important!)
SHOULD I REMOVE THE POT FROM THE HEATED BURNER AT THIS POINT OR LEAVE IT?
•Step 4 – Let the eggs sit until cool enough to handle.
•Step 5 – Remove from water and pop those babies in the fridge.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT RUNNING COLD WATER OVER THEM DOES NOT WORK!
•Step 6 – Once chilled, peel and eat! PERFECTION!

I am trying again now but would appreciate a little more detail and THANKS!

[…] How to Hard Boil Eggs at High Altitude – … – I tried another high altitude boiled egg recipe and it was a disaster. This one worked perfectly. … Denver Art Museum Announces FREE Admission for All Kids!… […]

I live at 8500 ft. Here is howI get easy-to-peel eggs. Place in pressure cooker on rack. Add 1 1/2 cups cold water. Bring up to pressure and cook 8 minutes. Speed release pressure and cool eggs in icy water. They peel with ease every time.

I’m from Nevada and I live at 5,250 ft. elevation. Every other hard boil recipe I’ve tried failed. In others, I’ve let it cool as soon as it boils. This recipe writes to have it boil for ten – fifteen minutes. They’re boiling as I’m writing this comment and I hope they’re successful.

Amazing!!! I live in Frisco, CO at 9,800 + in elevation and this is the first time I peeled the egg with ease!! I did exactly as you said (I did 13 minutes -my lucky number-at a high boil) then followed the rest to the letter. Thanks much sister!! Finally i’m not afraid to make hard boiled eggs!!!! I’m telling all my friends up here-

My middle child and oldest daughter is not a fan of cereal for breakfast. She loves eggs but I’m not an early riser. One solution = hard boiled eggs that she can cut, devil, eat however she wants. She enjoys having nice yellow yolks so I know this is important!

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Hi! I'm Emily, a mom to three very active boys. My youngest is autistic so I am passionate about advocating for children and families on the spectrum. I'm the Editor-in-Chief for ColoradoMoms.com. This site has been an amazing source of information for parents since 2005!
In my spare time I attend more concerts than humanly possible and take some pretty amazingly blurry photos of those shows. Hey, It's hard to take a pic with a beer in your hand! Also, #hashtags are my favorite. #totes #noreally